Sanya: The End of the Sky, The Corner of the Sea: The End of the Sky, The Corner of the Sea

Author: Xu Jiaguo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Sanya is located at the southern tip of Hainan Island (Hainan Province), China. The city enjoys a subtropical climate with four seasons like summer, where frost and snow are rarely seen, and flowers bloom year-round, earning it the nickname "Oriental Hawaii." This climate is highly suitable for tourism, leisure, and vacationing. The city covers an area of 1,919.6 square kilometers, with a coastline of 209.1 kilometers and 19 harbors. Major ports include Sanya Port, Yuli Port, Nanshan Port, Tielu Port, and Liudao Bay. Prominent bays include Sanya Bay, Haitang Bay, Yalong Bay, Yanzhou Bay, Dadai Bay, and Yuexiao Bay. There are 40 islands in total, with the main ones being Xidao Island and Wuzhizhou Island.
Sanya was historically known as Yanzhou, with a long and rich history. Archaeological evidence shows human activity in Sanya's Lopidong Cave as early as 10,000 years ago, and ancient Persian burial grounds have been discovered along the coast. During the Qin Dynasty, Yanzhou was one of the three southern prefectures established in the south. Due to its remote location far from the imperial capital, it was known as the "End of the Earth" since ancient times. Famous monks like Jianzhen, Song Dynasty prime minister Zhao Ding, and textile artist Huang Daopo all visited Yanzhou, with statues commemorating them at relevant attractions.
Sanya is home to over 20 ethnic groups, including Han, Li, Miao, and Hui. The total population of the city is 456,000 (with 130,000 in the urban area), including 173,000 Li people, 3,000 Miao people, and 6,000 Hui people. Each ethnic group is hardworking, intelligent, and skilled in singing and dancing, creating a long-standing cultural heritage. Ethnic minorities still preserve their unique traditions and customs. The strong local flavor, diverse ethnic customs, and colorful ethnic arts attract numerous domestic and international tourists. The city's long history and multi-ethnic population have fostered a rich and diverse folk culture, as well as exquisite handicrafts and religious traditions. Traditional customs and cultural life are deeply moving.
Sanya's cultural and artistic heritage includes myths, folk dances, ethnic music, sculptures, gardens, religious practices, and handicrafts, among others. The forms are diverse, enhancing and enriching the city, leaving visitors in awe. Li and Miao folk dances represent Sanya's dance art, with movements inspired by hunting and farming, and melodies derived from traditional folk songs. During harvest festivals and the Spring Festival, the Li and Miao people gather in open village spaces, lighting torches, striking gongs, and dancing joyfully to celebrate with dances like "The Deer Dance," "The Deer Turn Back," and "Coconut Shell Dance." Among these, "The Firewood Dance" was recognized as one of China's best dance performances and was designated as a protected ethnic dance.
Variety of coconut handicrafts, shell carvings, and specimens of marine animals and butterflies are emerging as new varieties in Hainan's tourism commodity market. Local artisans use coconut shells as materials, drawing inspiration from myths and legends to create intricate carvings that reflect life. Sanya's folk weaving has a long history and is renowned both at home and abroad. It mainly includes cotton weaving and bamboo weaving. Cotton weaving, represented by the Li people, features exquisite patterns and vibrant colors, with products like blankets, cloth towels, belts, head coverings, backpacks, and skirts. Bamboo weaving uses mountain bamboo, processed through intricate steps like splitting and polishing, to create a wide range of decorative and practical handicrafts.
"Beyond the heavens, at the sea's edge, a long and winding road," as the saying goes. "Fellow travelers at the end of the earth" brought sorrow and tears to exiled officials and officials who were demoted. But today's Sanya is no longer the "end of the earth." "In the scorching wilderness, nowhere to be found, flowers bloom at the end of the earth." Sanya attracts countless tourists with its stunning landscapes, sunny beaches, and coconut-lined shores. This coastal city, covering 1,919 square kilometers and home to 445,000 people, including Li, Miao, and Hui ethnic minorities, is like a beautiful pearl nestled in the South China Sea.
When the northern regions are covered in ice and snow, Sanya remains lush and warm. As the poem by Ming Dynasty official Fang Xiang describes: "A beauty beyond the seas, willows and flowers all year round. Winter and summer pass unnoticed, only peach blossoms mark the passing of years." This poem captures Sanya's unique natural scenery of eternal spring and picturesque landscapes, which has been widely celebrated.
Here, sunlight, seawater, beaches, air, forests, animals, hot springs, and caves combine to form a rare natural wonder where mountains, cities, sand, and sea intertwine. Green hills rise everywhere, surrounded by emerald waters and coconut groves, presenting a tropical coastal paradise.
Yalong Bay, known as the "Oriental Hawaii" and called the "Greatest Bay Under Heaven," is renowned for its beauty, with the saying, "If you don’t see the sea in Sanya, you’ve missed it all; if you don’t visit Yalong Bay, you haven’t seen Sanya." Daytime offers cloud-watching and wave-playing, while nighttime brings and dreams of paradise.
Dadai Bay, with its warm, shallow waters, is a winter swimming paradise. The giant stone sculpture on Luhoutou Mountain tells the enchanting love story of a Li hunter and a deer spirit. The Tianya Haijiao scenic area, called the "Northern Great Wall to the South," features towering rocks and crashing waves. The Haishan Qiguo tourism area is known for its "ethereal clouds beyond the sky, a thousand sails at sea." The Nanshan Cultural Tourism Area focuses on Buddhist culture. The ancient Yanzhou City, Islamic burial grounds, and Yanglan Mosque offer unique cultural landmarks, inviting visitors to reflect on history.
Sanya’s coastal charm is fully displayed with its beaches, seafood, and accommodations. Hotels like the Kele Resort, Nanzhonghai Hotel, and Pearl River Garden Hotel line the coast, taking full advantage of the sea, sand, and sunshine. Others like the Dongfang Hotel and Sanya International Hotel are in the city center, catering to convenience. Fresh seafood is served fresh, delighting visitors.
Along the coastal road, stylish seafood restaurants allow travelers to enjoy the clear blue sky, gentle coconut breezes, and the sight of fishing boats while savoring delicious dishes, adding joy to their journey.
Strolling through the streets, tropical fruits, dried seafood, and a variety of shell and coconut handicrafts are everywhere.
"Far away, a thousand miles, never to return" reflects the ancient lament of the distant land of Qiongya from the central plains.